Latest news with #Rwanda
Zawya
an hour ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Ambassador Gao Wenqi visits Early Childhood Development (ECD) center with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) country representative to Rwanda
On July 22, Ambassador Gao Wenqi, along with Ms. Lieke van de Wiel, UNICEF country Representative to Rwanda, visited the cross-border Early Childhood Development center in Burera District, Northern Province. They were warmly received by District Mayor MUKAMANA Soline and briefed by the ADEPE team and young parents on how the project has helped and empowered local children and families. The field trip also featured lively interactions with the kids. Ambassador GAO noted that as a signature tripartite cooperation project between China, UNICEF and Rwanda, the ECD project in Rwanda has made positive contributions to improving children nutrition and health, empowering education for young generations, and promoting Rwanda's national strategic transformation. China will continue to work with UN agencies and the Rwandan government to support the country's socio-economic development with more and more early harvest. The cooperation with the Chinese government has effectively enhanced local children's well-being and promoted Rwanda's sustainable development, the UNICEF Representative to Rwanda said. She expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation with the Embassy in the near future. The Early Childhood Development project is funded by the Chinese government through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and implemented by UNICEF Rwanda. It has been carried out across six districts in three provinces of the country since March 2025. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Rwanda.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Business
- Zawya
Africa's minerals are being bartered for security: why it's a bad idea?
A US-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda binds the two African nations to a worrying arrangement: one where a country signs away its mineral resources to a superpower in return for opaque assurances of security. The peace deal, signed in June 2025, aims to end three decades of conflict between the DRC and Rwanda. A key part of the agreement binds both nations to developing a regional economic integration framework. This arrangement would expand cooperation between the two states, the US government and American investors on 'transparent, formalized end-to-end mineral chains'. Despite its immense mineral wealth, the DRC is among the five poorest countries in the world. It has been seeking US investment in its mineral sector. The US has in turn touted a potential multi-billion-dollar investment programme to anchor its mineral supply chains in the traumatised and poor territory. The peace that the June 2025 deal promises, therefore, hinges on chaining mineral supply to the US in exchange for Washington's powerful – but vaguely formulated – military oversight. The peace agreement further establishes a joint oversight committee – with representatives from the African Union, Qatar and the US – to receive complaints and resolve disputes between the DRC and Rwanda. But beyond the joint oversight committee, the peace deal creates no specific security obligations for the US. The relationship between the DRC and Rwanda has been marred by war and tension since the bloody First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congo wars. At the heart of much of this conflict is the DRC's mineral wealth. It has fuelled competition, exploitation and armed violence. This latest peace deal introduces a resources-for-security arrangement. Such deals aren't new in Africa. They first emerged in the early 2000s as resources-for-infrastructure transactions. Here, a foreign state would agree to build economic and social infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, hospitals) in an African state. In exchange, it would get a major stake in a government-owned mining company. Or gain preferential access to the host country's minerals. We have studied mineral law and governance in Africa for more than 20 years. The question that emerges now is whether a US-brokered resources-for-security agreement will help the DRC benefit from its resources. Based on our research on mining, development and sustainability, we believe this is unlikely. This is because resources-for-security is the latest version of a resource-bartering approach that China and Russia pioneered in countries such as Angola, the Central African Republic and the DRC. Resource bartering in Africa has eroded the sovereignty and bargaining power of mineral-rich nations such as the DRC and Angola. Further, resources-for-security deals are less transparent and more complicated than prior resource bartering agreements. DRC's security gaps The DRC is endowed with major deposits of critical minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese and tantalum. These are the building blocks for 21st century technologies: artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, wind energy and military security hardware. Rwanda has less mineral wealth than its neighbour, but is the world's third-largest producer of tantalum, used in electronics, aerospace and medical devices. For almost 30 years, minerals have fuelled conflict and severe violence, especially in eastern DRC. Tungsten, tantalum and gold (referred to as 3TG) finance and drive conflict as government forces and an estimated 130 armed groups vie for control over lucrative mining sites. Several reports and studies have implicated the DRC's neighbours – Rwanda and Uganda – in supporting the illegal extraction of 3TG in this region. The DRC government has failed to extend security over its vast (2.3 million square kilometres) and diverse territory (109 million people, representing 250 ethnic groups). Limited resources, logistical challenges and corruption have weakened its armed forces. This context makes the United States' military backing enormously attractive. But our research shows there are traps. What states risk losing Resources-for-infrastructure and resources-for-security deals generally offer African nations short-term stability, financing or global goodwill. However, the costs are often long-term because of an erosion of sovereign control. Here's how this happens: - certain clauses in such contracts can freeze future regulatory reforms, limiting legislative autonomy - other clauses may lock in low prices for years, leaving resource-selling states unable to benefit when commodity prices surge - arbitration clauses often shift disputes to international forums, bypassing local courts - infrastructure loans are often secured via resource revenues used as loan security. This effectively ringfences exports and undermines sovereign fiscal control. Examples of loss or near-loss of sovereignty from these sorts of deals abound in Africa. For instance, Angola's US$2 billion oil-backed loan from China Eximbank in 2004. This was repayable in monthly deliveries of oil, with revenues directed to Chinese-controlled accounts. The loan's design deprived Angolan authorities of decision-making power over that income stream even before the oil was extracted. These deals also fragment accountability. They often span multiple ministries (such as defence, mining and trade), avoiding robust oversight or accountability. Fragmentation makes resource sectors vulnerable to elite capture. Powerful insiders can manipulate agreements for private gain. In the DRC, this has created a violent kleptocracy, where resource wealth is systematically diverted away from popular benefit. Finally, there is the risk of re-entrenching extractive trauma. Communities displaced for mining and environmental degradation in many countries across Africa illustrate the long-standing harm to livelihoods, health and social cohesion. These are not new problems. But where extraction is tied to security or infrastructure, such damage risks becoming permanent features, not temporary costs. What needs to change Critical minerals are 'critical' because they're hard to mine or substitute. Additionally, their supply chains are strategically vulnerable and politically exposed. Whoever controls these minerals controls the future. Africa must make sure it doesn't trade that future away. In a world being reshaped by global interests in critical minerals, African states must not underestimate the strategic value of their mineral resources. They hold considerable leverage. But leverage only works if it is wielded strategically. This means: - investing in institutional strength and legal capacity to negotiate better deals - demanding local value creation and addition - requiring transparency and parliamentary oversight for minerals-related agreements - refusing deals that bypass human rights, environmental or sovereignty standards. Africa has the resources. It must hold on to the power they wield. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bio Usawa Biotechnology and ServareGMP Form Strategic Partnership to Advance Accessible Biotherapeutic Manufacturing in Africa
Strategic alliance brings advanced first-of-its-kind biotherapeutic production, workforce training, and rapid response capabilities to low- and middle-income countries to address healthcare equity gaps KIGALI, Rwanda and SAN FRANCISCO and SAN DIEGO, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bio Usawa Biotechnology Ltd. (Bio Usawa) and ServareGMP (Servare) today announced a strategic partnership to establish advanced monoclonal antibody manufacturing capabilities in Africa, directly addressing the critical healthcare access gap affecting patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This transformative collaboration spans four core pillars: Local Biomanufacturing Infrastructure: Building and operating advanced GMP manufacturing facilities in Africa for the production of high-quality monoclonal antibodies. Workforce Development & Training: Implementing industry-leading training programs to cultivate a skilled biopharma workforce across the continent. Process Innovation: Deploying next-generation process optimization and cost-reduction technologies to make antibody therapies more affordable. Emergency Response Capability: Establishing rapid development and deployment protocols for mAbs to respond to pandemics and regional health crises. Leveraging Industry-Leading Expertise for Healthcare Transformation The partnership combines Bio Usawa's deep understanding of African healthcare markets with Servare's extensive biopharmaceutical development expertise. Together, the organizations bring decades of proven experience across biotherapeutic development, clinical testing, current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), regulatory approvals, and global commercialization of breakthrough biomedicines, including many of the leading blockbuster therapies on the market today. This collaboration is grounded in a shared commitment to addressing the growing therapeutic access disparity in LMICs. The partnership's strategic focus aligns with recent initiatives by both organizations: Servare's collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to develop countermeasures against the Nipah virus, and Bio Usawa's partnership with Bioeq AG for BioUcenta, a biosimilar of Lucentis® targeting retinopathies in Sub-Saharan Africa. 'ServareGMP was founded on the belief that world-class biomanufacturing should be globally distributed,' said Gary Pierce, Executive Director of ServareGMP. "Through this collaboration, we are not only addressing immediate healthcare needs but also building sustainable infrastructure that will benefit future generations of African patients. Together, we will impact African healthcare by empowering communities and saving lives.' 'This initiative is about more than medicine—it's about building self-reliance, equity, and resilience,' said Richard Chin, M.D., Bio Usawa's co-founder and Chair of the Board of Directors. 'We are proud to co-create a future in which life-saving therapies are widely available at an affordable price for patients in Africa and in other LMICs. We are building the foundation for a more just and resilient global healthcare system.' A Model for Global Health Equity The partnership extends beyond cost reduction to fundamentally restructure how biotherapeutics are developed, produced, and delivered in LMICs. By investing in local talent, infrastructure, and innovation, the partnership seeks to ensure that patients in Africa can access the same life-saving therapies as those in high-income countries—both during crises and for ongoing care. About Biotherapeutic Access in LMICs Monoclonal antibodies are a cornerstone of modern medicine. However, cost and access barriers prevent their widespread use in many LMICs. This partnership will change that by enabling local production and distribution—cutting costs, reducing reliance on imports, and improving response times in health emergencies. About Bio Usawa Biotechnology Bio Usawa is a leading African biotechnology company dedicated to expanding access to affordable, high-quality biosimilars across the continent. Through strategic industry partnerships and deep regional expertise, Bio Usawa is pioneering a future where life-saving biomedicines are developed, manufactured, and distributed by Africans, for Africans—and beyond. For more information, visit About ServareGMP ServareGMP is a specialized non-profit biotechnology organization founded by industry veterans with extensive experience across the biopharmaceutical value chain. The organization's leadership team brings proven expertise spanning discovery, development, manufacturing, regulatory approval, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. For more information, visit Media Contacts:For Bio Usawa: Daniel LevineLevine Media Group+1 510-280-5405danny@ For ServareGMP:Enrique Cowenecowen@
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
IFC raises $17mln in Rwanda's second ‘Umuganda' bond
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has raised Rwf24 billion ($17 million) through an Umuganda Bond to support the development of Rwanda's capital markets, the second such instrument in more than a decade. The eight-year amortising bond is expected to help attract more international borrowers to issue bonds in the country. The money raised through the bond, IFC's first onshore Rwanda franc-denominated bond in 11 years, will go towards a digital infrastructure project in the country to help mitigate risks associated with currency fluctuations that occur when borrowing in US dollars or another international currency.'We are excited to return to Rwanda's domestic capital markets with this bond that will support critical infrastructure and deepen domestic capital markets in the country,' said IFC's director for Eastern Africa Mary Porter Peschka in a statement on July 21.'The bond offers investors exposure to IFC's triple-A rating, while also enabling IFC to provide local currency financing to an important project that will enhance digital connectivity.'IFC issued its inaugural Rwandan franc-denominated onshore bond in 2014, when the term 'Umuganda' for domestic Rwanda franc issuances by non-resident entities was coined, marking the first placement by a non-resident issuer in Rwanda's domestic capital markets. The latest bond, listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange, attracted diverse investors, including pension funds, insurance companies, banks and asset managers. It was 1.75 times oversubscribed and carries a coupon of 10.5 percent, about. 0.55 percent below the interpolated government yield. BK Capital and Rand Merchant Bank are the co-lead managers.'IFC's second Umuganda bond will support our work to deepen domestic capital markets in Rwanda,' said Yusuf Murangwa, Rwanda's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning IFC has been supporting capital market reforms through programmes such as the Rwanda Capital Market Development project, a joint IFC-World Bank engagement that provides advice on increasing secondary market liquidity in the government bond market, increasing the supply and issuance of non-government bonds, and developing a more diversified, professional investor base. This is aimed at increasing access to long-term local currency finance for key sectors in Rwanda. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) to hold its 20th Plenary Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) ( will convene for its 20th Plenary Assembly from July 30 to August 4, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme: 'Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace.' The plenary will bring together over 250 participants, including Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Men and Women, and Lay Leaders from across Africa and its islands, as well as partners from other continents. The Kigali Assembly will assess the progress made since the 19th Assembly, held in 2022 in Accra, Ghana, and chart a visionary course for the Church in Africa. Key agenda items include: Presentation of SECAM's long-term vision document for 2025–2050, built around 12 foundational pillars such as evangelization, family leadership, youth engagement, care for creation, digital mission, and political responsibility. A pastoral reflection on accompanying Catholics in complex cultural realities, including polygamous unions. Discussions on governance, justice, peace, interfaith dialogue, climate change, and safeguarding. The Assembly will also unveil the Triennial Strategic Plan (2025–2028) and initiate the renewal of SECAM's leadership in line with its constitution. Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior Secretary General of SECAM Accra, Ghana Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). For more information, please get in touch with the Secretary General of SECAM at the following contact: secamsg@ Communications Coordinators on the following contacts: +233541717984 mutabazifide@ + 250783 462125
